CRR Bill Rose led the way at the Blue Hens Homecoming 5K yesterday, finishing as the first masters runner and winning the 50-59 age group in 20:27. There were three other Creek Road Runners, among the many who competed, who each won his/her age division.
CRR Mark Deshon and CRR Jen Pyle dominated the 60-69s, with winning times of 22:36 and 30:12, respectively. CRR John Bishop, in a rare race appearance, won the 70-79 age group in 36:05.
CRR Anja Leefeldt took 2nd in the 40-49 age group with a 25:34, CRR Becky George took 2nd in the 50-59s with a 25:54, and CRR Bob Opila took 3rd among the 60-69s in 26:34.
In the 11th Annual Main Street Mile race in Newark, two guys with the same last name, who are related only by their fleetness of foot, cracked the top 15 in this short race of 813 participants. CRR Andrew Weber posted the fastest time among Creek Road Runners, finishing 9th overall in a lightning-fast 5:08, good for 2nd in the 30-39 age group. CRR Bruce Weber wasn’t far behind, finishing 14th overall and taking 1st among the 50-59s in 5:32. In terms of age grading, the elder Weber’s time garnered a 90.2 grade, which is considered “world class” for his age group. The younger Weber’s 84.3 is considered “national class.” Both impressive, to say the least. An honorable mention, Newark’s Deputy Mayor CRR Andrew Haines turned in a 7:15.
In a much longer race, the Pike Creek Valley Running Club’s annual Delaware Distance Classic 15K, there were four standouts. Of the 191 participants in this race, CRR Bill Farquhar came in 7th overall, finishing in 58:51 and winning the 45-49 age group. Watch out for him within the next year when he turns 50! CRR Keith Crispin took 2nd in the 50-54 age group with a 1:06:38, good for 28th overall.
New Jersey resident and one of the original Creek Road Runners, 57-year-old CRR Robert Hesketh, posted a 1:11:37, finishing 45th and taking only 7th place in a tough age group (55-59). CRR Doug Repetti, 66 years of age, was 70th in 1:17:46, and CRR Theresa Kauffman finished 113th in 1:25:52.
In a slightly longer race on Sunday, Dimitri “Dima” Kaliakin, youngest son of CRR Vic Kaliakin completed his first ultramarathon, the grueling Tussey Mountain 50-miler, just outside State College, Pa. The 20-year-old Washington College grad completed the up-and-down 50-mile distance in 6:45:34, finishing 5th overall and 4th among non-masters runners. This included a total elevation gain of 5,485 feet, 1,301 feet of which occurred during one 4.1-mile stretch (from the course’s lowest to highest point). Back in May, Dima placed 12th overall out of 326 finishers in the Delaware Marathon in 3:06:07. We shorter-distance Creek Road Runners salute you, Dima!
CRR Diane Kukich won the 60-69s in what was, for her anyway, a fairly comfortable 25:21 as the 38th runner to cross the line.
Now 76, CRR Bob Taggart, the grand old man who still owns five 
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